Electric water heater



Dec. 21, 1948. s. w. HALL ELECTRI C WATER HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filedoct. 10, 1945 I N VEN TOR.

Dec. 21, 1948. s. w. HALL ELECTRIC WATER HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledOct. 10. 1945 Patented Dec. 21 1948 ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Stanley W.Hall,

Oshkosh, Wis., assignor to United States Motor Corporation, acorporation of Wisconsin Application October 10, 1945, Serial No.621,451

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electric water heaters.

Generally defined, a primary object of the invention is to provide ahighly efficient, rapid operating, and improved electric water heater ofthe'type employing an immersion electric heating element for the purposeof heating water introduced into a tank and thereby causing circulationwithin the tank and the discharge of heated water from the upper portionof the tank.

In the conventional electric water heaters of the type underconsideration, an immersion electric heating element is employeddirectly in the tank of water in unshielded relation relative to thewater in the tank. One of the objects of the present invention is theprovision, in an electric water heater of the class described, of a tubemounted within the water chamber of the tank in spaced, enclosureforming relation relative to the heating unit, whereby the tube servesto increase the circulation of the water in the tank, thereby increasingthe speed of heat transfer and enhancing the efficiency of theapparatus, and also, because of the speeded-up water circulation, thearrangement tends to keep the heating element free from objectionabledeposits which would ordinarily form thereon and detract from itseiiiciency.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric water heateradapted especially for use in rural localities and being susceptible ofbeing filled by the introduction of water poured from pails or othercontainers and requiring no special plumbing, said water heater beingunsusceptible of running dry and not being a pressure system.

\ A further object of the invention is to provide an electric waterheater which is entirely automaticin its operation and isthermostatically controlled.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric water heaterwhich is easy to clean, which may be readily drained and flushed, and inwhich the electric heating e ement is removable for cleaning,conditioning and replacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric water heateradapted for batch filling and provided with an upper filler bowlsurrounded by an inwardly projecting annular rim which prevents waterfrom splashing out when being poured into the filler bowl from a pail orutensil, which keeps dirt and foreign material out of the filling bowl,and which also serves as a firm support for the pail or utensil used infilling.

Afurther object of theinvention is to provide an electric water heaterwherein the body or casing is elevated by means of legs which arefrictionally engaged in sockets in a manner so as to eliminate thenecessity for screws or other separate fastening means.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in an electric waterheater of the class described, a syphon head so constructed andpositioned that the expansion of the heated water will not causedrippage at the discharge outlet.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in an electric waterheater of the class described, an internal base ring or collar memberwhich supports the water tank or vessel within the easing and which alsoacts as a locater for the associated elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric water heaterwhich is of very simple construction, is strong and durable, iseconomical to operate, and is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of theimproved electric water heater, and its parts and combinations as setforth in the claims and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the improved electric water heaterwith parts broken away and in section to show details of theconstruction, the cover for the filler bowl being removed;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the improvedelectric water heater;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the circulator tube embodied inthe heater tank,and on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged bottom view of the circulator tube;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower portion of the waterheater casing showin the manner in which a supporting leg is carriedthereby, with parts being broken away to show details of construction;and

Fig. 6 isa fragmentary perspective view on a reduced scale showing themanner in which the cover for the filler bowl may be hung in openposition on the filler bowl rim.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will appear that theimproved electric water heater includes an outer, metallic casing ID ofcylindrical formation and having its lower end closed by a disk-likecover or head ll.

Mounted at spaced intervals on lower outer surface portions of the outercasing in are socket forming straps of plates i2, providing openingsbetween their off-set inner face portions and the surface portions ofthe casing thereadjacent. The outer casing in, and parts includedtherein, are adapted to be supported in an elevated position by aplurality of spaced supporting legs H. The upper end of each supportingleg l3 has, toward its outer face, an upwardly projecting tongue i4, andspaced inwardly thereof are off-set fingers I5 (see Fig. 2). The legs I3are connected to the bottom portion of the outer casing I by'means whicheliminate the use of bolts, screws or other such expedients. As will benoted from Fig. 2, the bottom cover I I of the outer casing is attachedto a flanged ring disk l6 by means of bolts I1 and winged nuts l8.Relative to a leg l3 the upwardly projecting tongue l4 thereof isinserted into the pocket formed by a casing-borne plate i2 and is heldtherein by friction. The adjacent downturned flange portion of thebottom disk It rests on the top of the leg inwardly of the tongue i4 andthe leg fingers l5 engage inner face portions of the disk flange. Thelegs are thereby mounted in a very secure and stable manner.

Mounted centrally on the inner surface of the bottom of the outer casingis an upstanding metal collar i9 which acts as a locater for theassociated parts in the assemblage and which also forms a seat for acylindrical water tank 20, formed of sheet metal. On the inner surfaceof the bottom cover II and within the collar I9 is a suitable thicknessof insulation 2|, and likewise, between the inner surface of the outercasing it and the outer surface of the water tank and collar I9, isinsulation 22 which complctely packs the spaces mentioned.

Within the upper end of the outer casing I0 is a filler bowl 23 whoseupper peripheral portion is integral with the inwardly flanged upperedge of the outer casing H). The bottom of the filler bowl inclinesevenly downwardly to a central outletor discharge opening 24communicating with a downwardly tapered open discharge spout 25. Saidopening 24 and water flow through the spout 25 is normally controlled bya removable rubber or fiber stopper 26 carried by an anchored chain 21.

Extending axially downwardly in the water tank 20 is a metal filler tube28 whose open lower end is cut angular as at 28'. and is adapted todischarge slightly above the bottom of the water tank 20 over a drainpipe 29 whose projecting lower end portion is normally closed by aremovable cap 30, said drain pipe extending from the bottom of the watertank through the bottom cover II of the main casing. The upper end ofthe filler tube 28 is integral with a top plate 3| which closes theupper end of the water tank 20 and also communicates with the lower endof a metal fitting 32 whose upper end is connected by a hose jo nt 33with the spout 25 previously mentioned.

The upper peripheral portion of the outer casing It carries an inwardlyprojecting rim 34 which extends inwardly of and over the upper edge ofthe filler bowl 23 and has its inner periphery formed as a curveddownturned cave-like flange. This cave-like flange prevents water fromsplashing out of the filler bowl when the latter is having waterintroduced thereinto and also serves as a convenient support for a pailor utensil used in introducing water into the filler bowl. The top ofthe filler bowl may be closed by a circular cover member 35 whosedownturned outer peripheral portion carries a rubber bumper or gasket 36adapted to rest on the top of the horizontal portion of the cave-likerim 34. Centrally mounted on the top of the removable cover 35 is ahandle 3"]. Depending from an undersurface portion of the cover 35 is acover hanger or hook 38, constructed as is best shown in Fig. 2 andhaving thereon an outer covering of rubber or similar resilientmaterial. When the cover 25 is removed, as in introducing water into thefiller bowl 23, the hanger 38 provides convenient means for hanging orsupporting the cover 35 in an exposing position, as is shown in Fig. 6,wherein said cover 35 is disposed against an outer face portion of themain casing In and the hanger 38 engages the flanged portion of the rim34.

A very important feature of the present invention is a circulator tubedesignated generally by the numeral 39 and shown in detail in Figs. 3and 4. As will be noted from the drawings, said circulator, tube is ofcircular formation and is slightly upwardly tapered. It is provided withl skirt-like lower extension 48 provided with a flanged arcuate base 4|by which means the circulator tube is mounted on and bolted to thebottom wall 42 of the water tank 20. The circulator tube in itsassembled relation is preferably positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 2with its open upper end substantially below the top of the water tank 28and preferably in vertical alinement with the lower open end of a curvedsyphon head 43. The cutaway lower end portion of the circulator tube 89adjacent the skirt forms an inlet for water circulating through saidtube.

The horizontal extent of an outlet pipe 44 which extends through theouter casing I0, is connected at its inner end with an upper sideopening in the syphon head 43. The outer end of the outlet pipe 44 isdownturned to discharge heated water into a suitable vessel, or, ifdesired, an end of a tubular connection or pipe may be attached thereto.

Supported on a suitable base plate 45 carried by the water tank bottom42 is an upwardly projecting immersion type electric heating element 48which, as positioned, is within the lower portion of the circulator tube39. Terminals 41 and 48 on the lower fixture portion of the heatingelement 46 have connected thereto circuit wires 48 and 50, and alsoconnected to said circuit wires is a thermostat 5!. The circuit wiresare included in a conventional cable or cord 52 which extends outwardlyof the main casing ill for connection with a convenient source ofelectrical energy (not shown).

The improved electric water heater may be used in any locality Wherethere is a source of current. The electric heater does not requirepiping and is, therefore, particularly adapted for rural locations.,When the water tank 20 is to be filled, cold water is initiallyintroduced thereinto through any convenient means. If the electricheater is not located near a source of piped water, the water may beintroduced into the heater by means of buckets or like utensils. Forthat purpose the top cover 35 is removed and is conveniently hung on theside of the main casing in the manner shown in Fig. 6. As thestopper-carryin chain 21 is attached to, the main cover, the removal ofthe main cover will insure the disengagement of the stopper from thefiller bowl opening 24. As water is introduced into the filler bowl 23by means of pails, as was previously mentioned, a pail, during thepouring operation.

may be conveniently supported onthe filler bowl rim 34 which likewiseprevents splashing during the pouring operation. The water introducedinto the filler bowl flows down the filler tube 15 and when sufflcientwater is poured into the device so as to fill the interior of the watertank 20, the cord '52 is connected with an electrical source and currentthen iiows through the heating element 46. The circulator tube '39 whichencloses the heating element 46 is, of course, filled with water, andthe water in said tube in, contact with the heating element will becomeheated therebyand rises in the tube and thus startsthe watercirculation. ,The cold water in the;tank, of course, continuallycirculates downwardly and is drawn into the. circulator, tube 39, beingheated thereinand. then thewarm water rises. The syphon head 43 drawsoff heated waterfrom the top of the tank 20 and discharges said heatedwater in a continuous stream through the outlet pipe 44, the water beingdischarged into any desired container or it may be conveyed to a desiredlocation by means of tubing connected to the outlet end of the dischargepipe 44.

The action described continues until the water in the tank 20 hasreached a predetermined maximum temperature, at which point thethermostat functions to automatically break the electrical circuit. Theelectrical circuit will remain open until the tank temperature drops toa predetermined minimum temperature. This may be occasioned by theaddition of cold water to the tank 20 or through heat losses. When thetank temperature reaches a predetermined minimum temperature, thethermostat 5| automatically closes the circuit and the heating elementis again energized so as to heat the circulating water. This cyclecontinues as long as the device is in electrical connection with thesource of energy. Obviously, additional cold water introduced into thetank 20 will pass to the bottom of the tank through the tube 28 forcinghot water upwardly in the circulator tube 39 and out of the tank throughthe syphon head 43 and the discharge pipe 44. The construction of thesyphon head is such that expansion of water will not cause drippage atthe outlet end of the discharge pipe 44.

The improved electric heater provides an extremely convenient means forproviding an adequate supply of heated water. The water is heatedrapidly and efflciently and the thermostatic control insures a supply ofheated water at a desired temperature. The improved circulator tube 35greatly increases the efflciency of the apparatus and facilitates theheating of water in the tank 20. It also insures an active flow of waterthrough the circulator tube 39 in close proximity to the heating element46 and thereby additionally serves to keep said heating element freefrom objectionable deposits. The outlet end of the circulator tube,being in alinement with the open end of the syphon head facilitates thedischarge of hot water.

The electric water heater is simple in construction and is easy toassemble and disassemble. In the latter respect, the base collar I9, notonly supports the water tank 20 in an elevated position relative to thebottom of the outer tank II], but also serves as a locater for theadjacent constituent elements. The heater does not involve a pressuresystem and there is no danger of the same running dry. The cap or plug30, on the lower end of the drain pipe 29 is readily accessible forremoval whereby the tank may be drained and flushed. f

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this inventionto the exact details of construction or the precise mode of operationherein shown and described, for various modifications within the scopeof the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a displacement type water heater, a jacketed tank adapted tocontain a body of water and having a lower cold water inlet and an upperwarm water outlet, a water circulator tube mounted upright entirelywithin said tank spacedly-'-between the tank inlet and outlet, the boreof said tube being slightly upwardly tapered, an immersion-type electricheating element within a portion of said tube in the path of watercirculating therethrough, and an internally b'afiled syphon head in thewarm water outlet in substantial alinement with the upper end ofsaid'tube.

2. In a water heater, a tank adapted to contain a body of water andhaving an upper warm water outlet, an open top filler bowl superimposedon said tank and having a controlled drain opening in a lower portionthereof, the upper end of the filler bowl being formed with an inwardlyprojecting annular rim, a removable cover for the open top of said bowlhaving a projecting hanger on its inner face to engage said rim andsupport the cover free of the top of the bowl, a discharge pipeextending from said drain opening into a lower interior portion of saidtank to supply cold water thereto, a water circulator tube mountedupright in said tank spacedly between the discharge end of said pipe andsaid tank outlet, and an electric heating element within a portion ofsaid tube and in the path of water circulating therethrough.

3. A water heater, comprising an outer jacket closed at its bottom andformed at its upper end with an internal filler bowl, the bottom of thejacket being formed with a downturned annular flange and the lower outersurface portions of the jacket being formed with spaced pockets, legs tosupport said jacket having fingers and tongues at their upper endsbindingly engaging the downturned annular flange and said pocketsrespectively, a water holding tank spacedly mounted within the jacketand having an upper warm water outlet therein, a discharge pipeextending from said outlet through the jacket, a water supply conduitbetween the tiller bowl and a lower portion of the tank, insulationbetween the tank and jacket, and a heating device projecting into thetank.

4. In a water heater, a water tank, a normally empty filler bowl securedto the tank and having a cold water conduit arranged to discharged intosaid tank near the bottom thereof, a normally empty warm water outletconduit extending outwardly from the upper portion of said tank wherebywater poured into said tank from the filler bowl will cause acorresponding quantity to be displaced and discharged through said warmwater outlet conduit, a water circulator tube, open at its opposite endsand mounted upright in said tank spacedly between the tank inlet andoutlet conduits, and an electric heating element within a portion ofsaid tube and in the path of water circulating therethrough, the openingof the warm water outlet conduit into the tank being adjacent to andalined with the open upper end of the circulator tube.

5. In a water heater, a tank adapted to contain 7 8 a body of water andhaving a warm water olmlet. tween the tank and jacket, and a. heatingelem an open top filler bowl superimposed on said tank, projecting intothe tank;

the upper end at the filler bowl being formed with STANLEY w. HALL. aninwardly proj acting annular rim, a removable eaver or the open top ofsaid how] having a 5 REFERENCES CITED madman: hanger on its mner race toengage Sam The following references. are of record in the 11m andsupport. the cover free of the top at the bowl, a discharge pipeextending from the filler me of this patent bowl to said tank to supplycold water thereto. NITED STA ES PA NT and. an electric heating elementwithin said tank. 19

6. A water heater, comprising an outer jacket, agg g 191: the bottom ofthe jacket being f di 132 071 gg, W. N 4 1919 downturned annular flangeand the. lower outer 1620537 Gary l surface portions of the jacket beingformed wi h 1698'596 Hynes 193g spaced pockets, l s to sup rt s ja a s15 1857510 Hyde 1933 fingers and tongues at their upper ends bindingly 5g June 1933 engaging the downturned annular flange and said 1, MoyleJune 1933 pockets respectively, a water hold ng ank p ced- 2262'403Pankov; Nov 11 1941 1y mounted within the jacket and having 3 2 2 9 44 Fn J n 13 1942 warm water outlet extending therefrom, a water 20 1 Ferris1943 supply conduit entering said tank, insulation be-

